Do I just have to accept that flying out of MCO is always going to be bad?

[Tenkawa]

DW and I booked a direct flight (and paid a few hundred more) for the 4 of us (DW, DS, MiL, myself) just to be direct, and not a low cost airline, specifically to avoid problems.

That said, the best thing to do is arm yourself ahead of time with apps and tools to do flight searches. If something goes wrong and you are connecting, try to find another flight from the same carrier to get you home, and pitch it to the agent. Often then can get things fixed if you tell them what works for you (I had a Charlotte to Vancouver through Denver flight get screwed up due to a plane issue. A quick search and calling their support line and I was on the Charlotte to Seattle flight 20min later. If I didn't have the search, I would not have made the flight).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Just as we were getting to the gate, they were announcing preboarder, then A, etc. We got in line, with the preboarders. At that moment, our names were requested to desk for a message. I gave DH his tickets and went to see about the message. Before someone could help me, DH was by my side saying he was denied boarding. If there was an error , it would have been when agent downstairs rebooked us.

I think you still needed to go to the agents at the actual gate for pre-boarding though. That's where you'd get the pre-board approval and where you'd get the reserved seat placard for the second seat. The agents I'm referring to are the ones behind the desk where they have the flight numbers and where you'd go if you want to do Upgraded Boarding at the gate or get on a different flight once you're at the gate. Then the gate agents are the ones at the podium by the jet bridge who do the Boarding process.

Your husband would have been denied boarding if there was nothing to indicate he was cleared for pre-boarding. If what I'm understanding occurred it basically comes down to him joining the line too soon. I can understand why you may have wanted to do that because they had already started announcing pre-boarding but at that point in time you were not authorized to pre-board as far as I'm understanding from your comments. I hope the flight was still a pleasant enough experience after that blip

 

[SkyGuy]

He needs two seats or the person next to him will be very unhappy. We had purchased two seats for him for several years now and have always had preboarding and have only gone to the desk for those flights to have a tag for his rollator. This was the second set of tickets that we had that day. Not sure if the tickets had preboarding on them or not.
The desk agent did say being in wheelchair does count as preboarding. And yes, SWA.

We’ve always automatically been given preboard when purchasing two seats as well - never had any issues. I’ve done it with a broken leg - flew quite a few times in the cast and then in a not-very-bendy brace, and then for a relative using the person of size. (That relative just used it yesterday with preboard granted - originally a low B - at MSP.)

Edit: I see you *may* have not visited the ticket agent at the gate to exchange your TSA doc for the boarding pass and seat holder; if that’s the case, it’s more understandable.(If you did all that, it sounds like a misinformed gate agent to me.)

 

[jo-jo]

When we do the online checkin, we get one ticket with say B 22 and another paper that says security document. When we go to check in our bags, they take those tickets and reprint with the ticket and seat reserved papers. When we get to gate, I've taken the rollator to get a gate checked tag. I don't remember ever having to bring his tickets and exchange them at the desk.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When we do the online checkin, we get one ticket with say B 22 and another paper that says security document. When we go to check in our bags, they take those tickets and reprint with the ticket and seat reserved papers. When we get to gate, I've taken the rollator to get a gate checked tag. I don't remember ever having to bring his tickets and exchange them at the desk.

You still have to go through the pre-boarding authorization to actually pre-board. The link I shared reflects this. Purchasing 2 seats does not require someone to pre-board. SWA encourages you to do this but it's not required and you can still board in your assigned boarding position.

In order to pre-board you need to see the ticket agents at the gate and get pre-board authorization. Then you can get in line to pre-board and with pre-board on your ticket you can then be authorized to pre-board. Because this wasn't done the gate agent during the pre-board process denied pre-boarding (as they should). I'm not saying your husband shouldn't utilize the opportunity to pre-board but you still have to go through the process. You asked why he got denied, I've been explaining why he was denied. If he didn't have pre-board on his ticket he can't pre-board.

 

[jo-jo]

What I'm saying is, in the past few trips, I don't remember doing this at the gate. I think it was done at the check in with the bags.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

What I'm saying is, in the past few trips, I don't remember doing this at the gate. I think it was done at the check in with the bags.

I know and I understand but your question was about why he got denied.

It is quite possible that the past times his ticket that was reprinted when you were given the reserved seat had pre-board on it (this time it doesn't sound like it did) or that there was always enough time in the past to talk with the ticket agent at the gate and so you never ran into a situation where pre-boarding had already begun when you got to the gate. The gate agent wasn't incorrect in denying pre-board if you didn't have the proper authorization.

IMO for the future I wouldn't suggest entering the pre-board line until you have the proper documents or you'll risk the possibility of being denied pre-boarding

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

We opted to drive this visit.

10 hours give or take.

Why?

2 hours to airport with direct service.
Have to get there 2 hours before flight.
Parking fees
2 Hour Flight
1 hour to get out of airport and get car rental (at least)
Add car rental or Uber fees anyway to get around.

So , at best, 7 hours if no delays and alot of stress and hassles, plus more expensive?

For 2-3 more hours, we save roughly 800 dollars.

We've debated this on our trips. It was 16 hours drive (2 days) from our house. But DFW was 2-1/2 to 3 hours away. So by the time you drive 3 hours, wait in the airport an hour or 2, take a 3 hour flight, that's 8 hours. Plus, time from the plane at OIA to baggage to busses, it's another hour or 2. We're gaining roughly 8 hours and an extra day by flying. But we've definitely thought about it and weighed the pros and cons.

 

[DLgal]

MCO security line is one of the inner circles of (I'll say for purposes of DIS) heck. AND, no matter how much time has passed or what changes they have made, it only gets more baffling and, well, bad. We pray we end up in a line that is being walked past a magic dog, but then other times we have been pulled over to the DAS line - those poor people - that awful line. Not only that, but the security people at MCO, more than anywhere else I have flown, seem far more concerned about what time and how long of a break they will be taking than they are of actually screening travellers.

AND...
As bad as flying OUT of MCO is, I find flying IN to LAX to be every bit as bad. Imagine our return trip where we have to do both. I've never understood why LA doesn't see LAX for what it is - THE first impression for anyone visiting So Cal. It should be nothing short of phenomenal, it's AWFUL! I describe it as a punch-to-the-face, welcome to LA - suckers! It used to be tighter security getting your bag out of baggage claim than getting on the plane, now they just don't seem to care if you do get robbed. You can instantly tell CA is one of the "weed is legal" states as you hit the curb. From there you have to fight through the never-ending construction, homeless people, and foul tempered shuttle drivers just to get to your rental car. Then, and only then, are you introduced to your first taste of the infamous LA freeway system. Any time I see someone post here about how much they loved So Cal and DL, I know one thing FOR CERTAIN; they either flew into LGB or SNA, because they sure as heck would say that after a first visit flying into LAX.

Preach!

Did you see that Soithwest is going to offer a nonstop to MCO from LGB starting in summer?

And Breeze airways will offer nonstop to MCO from SNA.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Preach!

Did you see that Soithwest is going to offer a nonstop to MCO from LGB starting in summer?

And Breeze airways will offer nonstop to MCO from SNA.

Saw that - thanks! It's a Saturday departure (and I assume return) ONLY. That, and we are flying on Jet Blue points to Orlando on our next trip and Southwest back - pretty much puts us at LAX unfortunately. Ah the good-old-days when Jet Blue flew out of LGB...